Adjustable trotline holder



7, 1962 J. w. GLOVER ADJUSTABLE TROTLINE HOLDER INVENTOR. mass/e an6401/52,

Filed NOV. 14, 1961 771% M Edd/8M 47702/VEY6,

3,047,978 ADJUSTABLE TROTLINE HOLDER Jessie Wilbure Glover, R0. Box 1,Clarksville, Tex. Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 152,207 2 Claims. (Cl.43-54.5)

This invention pertains to improvements in trotline holders for use inthe storage and handling of trotlines used in fishing. Morespecifically, the present invention is directed to the provision of adevice of this character which is adapted to accommodate a wide range ofstyles and sizes of fishhooks while retaining all advantageousfunctional characteristics of nonadjustable devices of this generalcharacter.

It has been previously known to supply trotline holders comprised of aslot-ted outer tube, having an inner hook supporting shaft therein. Suchdevices have proven ex tremely useful, but possess the inherentdisadvantage that, with the said inner shaft in a fixed location,utility of such device is quite limited as to the size and type offishhook which may be used therewith. Accordingly,

it is one objective of this invention to provide an adjustable trotlineholder wherein means is provided to adapt the same for use with avariety of types and sizes of fishhooks.

With the foregoing object in view, it is yet another object of theinvention to accomplish this purpose, but to retain maximum simplicityand a minimum number of elements.

An additional object resides in the provision of a storage anddispensing holder for a trotline adapted for use with fishhooks havingshank portions of varying lengths, the holder being of the type whichincludes a slotted outer tube, an inner hook support having a major axisgenerally parallel with the major axis of the outer tube, and means foradjustment of the location of the inner hook support with respect to thetube, whereby the distance between the slot in the outer tube and thehook support is variable to permit usage of the device with said varyinglengths of fishhooks.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following specification whenread in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a device constructed inaccordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the sectionline 3-3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed, vertical cross-section taken substantially alongsection line 4--4 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrow;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the device asshown in the preceding FIGURES; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 illustrating the adjustment ofthe device.

Proceeding now to a more precise description of a preferred andexemplary embodiment of the invention, in the several figures of thedrawing, the trotline holder is designated in general by character ofreference It The holder 10 comprises an elongated, hollow tubular mainbody portion -12 having opposite open ends 14, 16, and is generallydivided into a rear handle portion 18 and forward holder portion 20. Themain body portion 12 has an elongated, substantially rectangular slot 22formed therein which extends substantially the full length of theforward holder portion 20 and opens on the end 16-.

The handle portion 18 of the main body portion 12 page atent PatentedAug, 7, 1962 is preferably provided with tape winding 24 or othersuitable grip means.

A hollow, tubular, elongated hook support 26 is provided, and includesouter end 28 and inner end 30. The hook support 26 is disposed withinthe main body portion 1 2 and extends at least the full length of theforward holder portion 211 thereof, the end 28 preferably projectingsomewhat beyond the end 16 thereof to provide a locating means for thefishhooks, as appears in more detail below. The hook support 26 ismaintained in location, and adjusted, by a pair of longitudinally spacedadjustment means 32 (identical to one another) located adjacent its ends28 and 30. The adjustment means 32 comprises the means for variance inthe location of the hook support, and include elongated, threaded screws34. Screws 3 1 are threadedly received in threaded apertures 36 formedin the hook support 26, and extend through coaxial, non-threadedopenings 38 in the main body portion 12. The screws 34 have enlargedslotted heads 40 providing outward means for adjustment, and rings 42are fixed thereto adjacent the inner side of the main body portion 12and serve to fix the location of the screw with respect to the mainbody. Thus, since slot 22 is adjacent to the heads 40 of screws 34, itwill be seen that means is provided for variance in the distance betweenthe slot 22 and the hook support 26. In FIGURE 4, the hook support isextended to a maximum height, whereas in comparable FIGURE 6, theminimum length has been selected.

As stated above, the device 10 is for use with a trotline T consistingof a length of line L having a plurality of leaders E attached theretoat longitudinally spaced intervals. To the distal end of each leader Eis secured a fishhook F having shank S and bend portion B. The end ofthe line L has a snap hook H thereon which is releasably secured to aconnection eye 44 on the handle portion 18 of the main body portion 12.

Closure means for the end 16 of the main body portion 12 is provided andcomprises a cap 46 adapted to fit over said end, and havingdiametrically opposite, L-shaped slots 4% formed in its sides andopening on its end edges. Slots 48 interlock with pins 50 on main bodyportion 12, as best seen in FIGURE 1, whereby the cap is releasablyattached.

In use, and assuming the trotline T to be stored in the device 10, thecap 46 is removed by suitable manipulation and the exposed end of theline L is secured to an upright pole P or the like (FIGURE 5). The user,generally occupying a boat, then moves away from the pole, holding thedevice 10 in one hand, and permitting the hooks to slide from thedevice. When it is desired to replace the hooks, this procedure isreversed; that is, the boat is moved toward the pole I, each hook beingmanually inserted in the device 19 in sequential order.

The manner of placement of the leaders involves placement of bendportion B of hook F over the protruding end 28 of the hook support 26,and sliding the shank S through the slot 22 to an extreme position,while allowing the line and leaders to hang in loose coils below themain body 12. When the final hook F of the series is positioned withinthe main body portion 12, the cap 26 is replaced, thereby effectivelypreventing the hooks from slipping from the holder at a later date.

aoamva 3 hook F projects outwardly of the main body portion 12 to affordthe means for gripping the same during placement therein.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention indetail, it will be understood that this description and illustration isoifered merely by Way of example, and that the invention is to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable trotline holder comprising:

(a) an elongated substantially tubular body portion having a forwardholding portion and a handle portion;

V (b) the forward holding portion having an elongated, substantiallyrectangular slot therein having an open outerrend;

(c) an internal, substantially tubular hook support rod disposed withinthe forward holding portion;

(d) adjustable screw means securing the hook support rod within theforward body portion; and

(e) the adjustable screw means comprising a plurality of threadedscrews, the screws being received in threaded apertures formed in thehook support rod,

and said thread screws being in fixed relation to said body portionwhereby rotation of the screws is effeetive to change the location ofthe hook support rod with respect to the body portion.

2. An adjustable trotline holder comprising:

(a) an elongated, substantially tubular body portion;

(b) said body portion having a slot formed therein opening on one endthereof;

(c) an elongated hook support rod disposed within the body portion;

(d) adjustable screw means securing the hook support rod within the bodyportion; and

(e) said adjustable screw means extending between and connecting thehook support rod to the body portion and being rotatable to change thelocation of the hook support rod with respect to the body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

